Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
